The Hokey Cokey is an old novelty song that has been sung in music halls, at children's parties and at sherry-fuelled family gatherings for many years.

But according to the Catholic Church and some Scottish politicians, singing the popular tune that begins with the words "You put your right hand in, your right hand out," may constitute an act of religious hatred.

A spokesman for the leader of the church in Scotland said the song had disturbing origins.

Critics claim that Puritans composed the song in the 18th century in an attempt to mock the actions and language of priests leading the Latin mass.

Now politicians have urged police to arrest anyone using the song to "taunt" Catholics under legislation designed to prevent incitement to religious hatred.

Supporters of Rangers FC have been banned from singing anti-Catholic songs at Ibrox stadium to taunt their rivals Celtic, a club with Catholic roots.

Related Articles

But fans of the club are said to be discussing on internet forums the possibility of getting round the ban by singing the Hokey Cokey at next week's Old Firm derby between the clubs.

Peter Kearney, a spokesman for Cardinal Keith O'Brien, said:

"This song does have quite disturbing origins. Although apparently innocuous, it was devised as an attack on and a parody of the Catholic mass.

"If there are moves to restore its more malevolent meaning then consideration should perhaps be given to its wider use."

According to the church, the song's title derives from the words "hocus pocus".

The phrase is said to be a Puritan parody of the Latin "hoc est enim corpus meum" or "this is my body" used by Catholic priests to accompany the transubstantiation during mass.

Several years ago, a canon from Wakefield Cathedral said the dance came from the days when priests celebrated mass with their backs to the congregation and whispered the Latin words of consecration with many hand movements.

Michael Matheson, the SNP MSP, said it was important that the police and football clubs were aware of the sinister background of the song and took action against groups who used it in matches.

But opposition politicians and football fans ridiculed the critics of the ditty. Murdo Fraser, deputy leader of the Scottish Tories, said: "I can't believe Scottish children performing the Hokey Cokey are doing so in pursuit of any sort of anti-Catholic agenda."

Barry McFarland, 26, a Rangers fan from Stirling, pointed out that Scotland fans sang a version of the song praising Diego Maradona's so-called "hand of God" goal against England.

He said: "The Tartan Army sing 'Diego put the English out, out out'. Does that make them sectarian? It is an absurd claim and a lot of utter nonsense that anyone would sing this in a bigoted way."

Criticism of the Hokey Cokey follows a long-running row over the singing by some Rangers fans of the Famine Song, which refers to the famine that left one million dead in Ireland and led to mass migration in the mid-19th century.